Gangnam B-Side 강남 비-사이드

Written by Joo Won-gyu & Park Noo-ri Directed by Park Noo-ri

There are some stories that are hard to write about, not because they lack depth or complexity, but because they stir something raw and unresolved within us. Gangnam B-Side is one of those dramas. It doesn’t feel poetic—its edges are too rough, its truths too heavy for that. And yet, it lingers. It refuses to let you disengage, pulling you into a world that feels uncomfortably familiar. As I watched, I found myself grappling with a quiet discomfort: the dissonance between the show’s meticulous execution and the dark, all-too-real events it draws from. The shadow of South Korea’s Burning Sun scandal looms over every frame, making it difficult to view the story in isolation. This isn’t just fiction; it’s a reflection of wounds that still ache, both for individuals and society as a whole.

Ji Chang-wook delivers his signature brilliance, layering his character with subtle tension and vulnerability, while BiBi’s raw, unpolished energy makes her performance unforgettable. Together, they elevate the drama, creating moments of reckoning that feel like a dance between light and shadow. Yet, despite its strong performances and heavy themes, Gangnam B-Side struggles to find its footing.

At times, it feels overplotted and underthought, with too many narrative threads competing for attention. The intrigue is there, but the emotional depth doesn’t always follow, leaving the drama feeling incomplete. Disney+’s latest Korean offering is undeniably filled with star power, but it fizzles out just when it should ignite. It shines brightly in parts, but its missed opportunities leave behind a lingering sense of what could have been.

Image courtesy of Disney Plus 

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